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Short-Term Rentals

Rental of a whole or partial residence to visitors for less than a month is commonly known as a Short-Term Rental (STR). Its legal term in Wisconsin is a Tourist Rooming House (TRH). Due to the growing popularity of house sharing and vacation rental websites which match visitors with residential host locations, many Wisconsin residents are offering short-term rentals in their homes.

Wisconsin allows the rental of one to four sleeping accommodations, which can be rooms of a home or an entire home or cabin.

All Dane County Tourist Rooming Houses must be licensed through Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) and inspected annually to verify the operation meets all requirements of Wisconsin law related to general public health.

Dane County (outside the City of Madison): Contact your municipal or township clerk.

* Exceptions: Airbnb collects and remits sales tax throughout Wisconsin and room tax within the City of Madison. If you are renting solely through Airbnb, a Seller's Permit is not needed (write "Airbnb only" in this field on the License Application form), and there is no fee for room tax registration in the City of Madison. Check the box saying "my business is not subject to the Madison Transient Room Tax" on the Room Tax Registration Form.

Apply for a license

Schedule an inspection

(Steps 1 & 2 must be done first)
Contact us at (608) 242-6515 to schedule a pre-inspection of your property. After the approved pre-inspection, you will receive the license and be able to rent out sleeping accommodations.

Healthy People. Healthy Places.

Public Health Services are available to all residents and visitors of Madison and Dane County. Citizenship is not a requirement. We provide services regardless of a person's race, color, gender/gender expression, ability, religion, sexual orientation or place of birth/place of residence.

Our Mission

Working with the community to enhance, protect, and promote the health of the environment and the well being of all people.